@thumper1 Our first visit there was in January – intentionally to find out how the cold would be, but I have to admit it was a mild January so I’m sure it gets much worse. Have a lot to think about…
Yes, it’s good to visit in the most adverse (weather) times for any locale one may wish to relocate, just to be sure you won’t tire of it or find it unbearable.
If you were in Minneapolis this past winter…January 2015…this was a very unusual winter there. While the rest of the country was pelted with snowstorm after snowstorm, for some odd reason Minneapolis got very little snow.
This is NOT the norm.
Plus a visit for even a week is very different than a month, two months…or the whole winter.
Heck, I visited snowy Cleveland last winter…twice. But it was a visit…and I knew I was leaving.
Seriously, I’ll bet you could get a long term rental there for the January to end of March time period. It’s not exactly “on season” during that time period!
I will say, I have several friends who love there…and love it, but none moved there because of their college aged kids. They all moved there for jobs.
I also support the option of renting a place for a few months in the winter to see how you like it - kind of a reverse snowbird! But again, I would only do it with the blessing of your D.
You mention that you are writer who works from home (?) - correct? Do you mind being isolated? Streets and neighborhoods are MUCH quieter when the winter months set in in the midwest/upper midwest. It’s dark at 5pm. It’s cold so unless you are enjoying winter sports, you are not strolling around the neighborhood. No sidewalk cafes in the winter! You have to think of it as LIVING there, not VISITING there.
No doubt the area is a beautiful place. But it would seem you are making this decision based on maybe a couple of short visits? Please correct me if I’m wrong.
The idea of following your kid to college seems really strange to me. However, I am surrounded by many people who have moved to this area to be near their grandchildren, so perhaps because I see that a lot it seems very natural to me.
I would say don’t follow her right now. It would be like stalking her if you then move again to follow her when she “lands” somewhere after college. She would probably be thrilled to have you move near her at that point in her life if you just let her be sort of on her own for college.
I hate to be a Debbie Downer but how secure is your job? If they are making your job remote is there any possibility at all that at some point you may be let go? In most lines of work there are no guarantees… so I would think you need to make sure you are living in a area where there are job opportunities and contacts in your field… Do you have that now in Atlanta? Have you looked at what the job opportunities would be like in Minnesota?
Minn. is a lovely state, and a lot of our local Wisconsin kids have attended the university or LAC in the Twin Cities and then made a permanent move. The employment situation appears to be rather robust at least in comparison to our state. However, the winters are sobering.
I grew up in a warmer state, and have lived in the upper Midwest for 30+ years. Winters can suck unless you are an outdoor sports devotee, but there are benefits to being in a city with a robust cultural scene and residents not afraid of going out in the cold. In your case, with a dad in Florida, you seem set for snowbird life. Winter in Florida, and then in spring head north for a six month or so rental to try out the situation.
I would focus on where you want to live when you are old and move there now. It is much easier to build up your social circle now than when you are in your 80s. For me, I decided NYC is the place I want to be because that’s where most of my friends are, great public transportation, good medical care, close to major airports…It is a bonus that both of my kids want to “settle” there after college.
If you have the freedom of working remotely, then why not pack up your stuff and try out different places (Airbnb) for few months. Maybe Twin Cities will be the place for you, but I wouldn’t do it just because your kid is there for 4 years.
I wouldn’t do it. Your daughter might not say anything, nor do I know your relationship, but it could really bother her. If she wanted to stay nearby to you, she would have. Plus…the weather. Our winters aren’t a walk in the park in the midwest, but my ex-SIL is from MN and told me she would laugh when people would complain about the winters in IN.
I would highly consider Florida near your family. It doesn’t have to be permanent, but will get you out of Atlanta in a new environment.
I say don’t do it. 4 years is so short. Would you follow her again when she moves after college? It’s time for her to make her own way. It’s not enough time to establish good connections then you might be “stuck” if and when she moves after college.
Native Minnesotan here. I’m with those that have said wait a year to see if she likes it. Atlanta and Minneapolis are very different places. Not everyone loves MN. Besides the climate, several people have complained to me about Minnesotans being very reserved. It will take you longer to make friends. When you make them, you’ll have them for life, but they won’t be as warm and welcoming as the people in Atlanta.
I’ve decided to move to San Antonio, Texas. I lived in Texas before and have lots of friends across the state, and am familiar with Texas culture and weather. That particular city will be new to me, but I’m looking forward to it. I can still drive to my hometown in Florida to visit my dad and sister (about a 10-hour trip), or fly direct to Minneapolis to visit my daughter. Problem solved.
Thanks everyone for all of your insights and advice. I would have loved to move to Twin Cities, but the deciding factor there was I didn’t want to impact my daughter’s residency, because that would affect her scholarships. I also would love to be near my aging and ailing father, but was not eager to move back to Florida, and decided it will be fine if I am in driving distance. Could always fly there, too, if there was a need to rush. Time to start packing!
You are currently a resident of Georgia, as is your daughter…right? She will be heading to MN as an OOS student.
You will be relocating to Texas.
Not sure I understand your comment about affecting your daughter’s residency for scholarships. Does she have a scholarship at MN that is for OOS students only?
@thumper1 Yes, one of her scholarships is OOS. I don’t want to do anything to impact her scholarships, especially when she wasn’t super enthusiastic at the thought of me living in MN. I lived in TX a long time ago and this will be a good move.
Glad you are comfortable with your decision. Hoping the excitement of moving to a new city will help you get over the adjustment of your child moving away to college.
Sounds like a great solution for you! Thanks for letting us know what you decided, after reading all the posts I was wondering what you would end up doing. It was so refreshing to read a thread that was civil, yet had a lot of different opinions.